July 15 coup attempt was a test, Turkish PM says

ANKARA

Turkey will continue to take the necessary steps not to face "treacherous" attempts again, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Thursday.

"In a sense, this coup attempt was a test," Yildirim said at a luncheon held in the honor of International Parliamentary Assembly heads at Cankaya Palace in the capital, Ankara.

"It was a choice between democracy supporters and coup supporters," he added.

The premier said every country had the "legitimate right" to defend itself against such attempts. "It is our natural right to use our defense mechanism within the boundaries of democracy."

"We took and will continue take the necessary steps in order not to face such treacherous attempts again," he said.

The premier also thanked the Assembly heads for their solidarity with and support for Turkey.

Turkey's government has said the defeated coup, which left more than 240 people martyred, was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999.

Gulen is accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

*Reporting by Kurbani Geyik; Writing by Diyar Guldogan.